Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the city faces a new threat: weakened FEMA. Following President Trump's policies, FEMA has undergone significant budget cuts and staff reductions, leaving the city vulnerable to future disasters. This mirrors the pre-Katrina state of the agency, raising serious concerns among residents and disaster experts. The cuts disproportionately affect low-income communities, hindering recovery efforts and undermining progress made since Katrina. Experts warn that the current trajectory is a step backward, potentially leading to another catastrophic failure in disaster response.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.